Network connectivity switching utilizing an authentication device

Abstract

In embodiments of network connectivity switching utilizing an authentication device for switching network connectivity from a first device to a second device, the authentication device maintains an address of the first device with a memory of a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, and the first device is authenticated for wireless communication via the cellular network. The authentication device receives an interrogation of the RFID tag from the second device, which can communicate via the cellular network, and responsive to an RFID tag response indicating the address of the first device, the second device communicates a device switch order to the first device, communicates an attach request to the cellular network, and writes an address of the second device to the memory of the RFID tag. The authentication device can then authenticate the second device to switch the network connectivity to the second device for wireless communication via the cellular network.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method, comprising:
 maintaining an address of a first device with a memory of a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag in an authentication device, the first device being authenticated and communicatively linked for wireless communication via a cellular network; 
 receiving an interrogation of the RFID tag from a second device, which is configured for communication via the cellular network, and responsive to an RFID tag response indicating the address of the first device, the second device performing:
 communicating a device switch order to the first device that initiates switching network connectivity from the first device to the second device utilizing the authentication device; 
 communicating an attach request to the cellular network; and 
 writing an address of the second device to the memory of the RFID tag; and 
 
 authenticating, by the authentication device, the second device to switch the network connectivity to the second device for the wireless communication via the cellular network. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second device receives an acknowledgement from the first device that the communication link with the cellular network has been released, responsive to the first device receiving the device switch order. 
     
     
       3. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the device switch order is a subscriber identity module (SIM) release order communicated to the first device; and 
 the second device receives a SIM release acknowledgement from the first device, responsive to the first device receiving the device switch order. 
 
     
     
       4. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said authenticating the second device comprises:
 receiving authentication request data from the second device that receives the authentication request data as part of an authentication challenge from the cellular network; and 
 communicating an authentication response back to the second device that forwards the authentication response to the cellular network. 
 
     
     
       5. The method as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the second device is communicatively linked for wireless communication via the cellular network based on the authentication challenge and authentication response to the cellular network. 
     
     
       6. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the authentication device is a passive authentication device comprising a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag to maintain a connected device address as one of the address of the first device or the address of the second device. 
     
     
       7. A method, comprising:
 maintaining an address of a first device with a memory of a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag in an authentication device, the first device being authenticated and communicatively linked for wireless communication via a cellular network; 
 receiving an interrogation of the RFID tag from a second device, which is configured for communication via the cellular network, and responsive to an RFID tag response indicating the address of the first device, the second device performing:
 communicating a connection takeover request to the first device that initiates switching network connectivity from the first device to the second device utilizing the authentication device; 
 receiving connection reestablishment information from the first device; 
 initiating a connection reestablishment with the cellular network based on the connection reestablishment information; and 
 writing an address of the second device to the memory of the RFID tag. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the second device receives an acknowledgement from the first device that the communication link with the cellular network has been released, responsive to the first device receiving the connection takeover request. 
     
     
       9. The method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein:
 the first device declares a radio link failure responsive to receiving the connection takeover request; and 
 the second device initiates the connection reestablishment with the cellular network as a radio resource control (RRC) connection reestablishment. 
 
     
     
       10. The method as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 authenticating the second device to switch the network connectivity to the second device for the wireless communication via the cellular network. 
 
     
     
       11. The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said authenticating the second device comprises:
 receiving authentication request data from the second device that receives the authentication request data as part of an authentication challenge from the cellular network; and 
 communicating an authentication response back to the second device that forwards the authentication response to the cellular network. 
 
     
     
       12. The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the second device is communicatively linked for wireless communication via the cellular network based on the authentication challenge and authentication response to the cellular network. 
     
     
       13. The method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the authentication device is a passive authentication device comprising a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag to maintain a connected device address as one of the address of the first device or the address of the second device. 
     
     
       14. A system, comprising:
 a first device that is authenticated and communicatively linked for wireless communication via a cellular network; 
 a second device configured for communication via the cellular network; and 
 an authentication device to switch network connectivity from the first device to the second device for the wireless communication via the cellular network, the authentication device configured to:
 maintain an address of the first device with a memory of a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag; 
 receive an interrogation of the RFID tag from the second device to facilitate the switch of network connectivity from the first device to the second device; 
 
 the second device is configured to:
 receive a RFID tag response indicating the address of the first device; 
 communicate a connection takeover request to the first device; 
 receive connection reestablishment information from the first device; 
 initiate a connection reestablishment with the cellular network based on the connection reestablishment information; and 
 write an address of the second device to the memory of the RFID tag. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the authentication device is a passive authentication device comprising the radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag to maintain a connected device address as one of the address of the first device or the address of the second device. 
     
     
       16. The system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein:
 the authentication device is configured to authenticate the second device to switch the network connectivity to the second device; and 
 the second device is communicatively linked for the wireless communication via the cellular network based on an authentication challenge and an authentication response to the cellular network. 
 
     
     
       17. The system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein:
 the first device declares a radio link failure responsive to receiving the connection takeover request; and 
 the second device initiates the connection reestablishment with the cellular network as a radio resource control (RRC) connection reestablishment. 
 
     
     
       18. A system, comprising:
 a first device that is authenticated and communicatively linked for wireless communication via a cellular network; 
 a second device configured for communication via the cellular network; and 
 an authentication device to switch network connectivity from the first device to the second device for the wireless communication via the cellular network, the authentication device configured to:
 maintain an address of the first device with a memory of a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag; 
 receive an interrogation of the RFID tag from the second device; 
 
 the second device is configured to:
 receive a RFID tag response indicating the address of the first device; 
 communicate a device switch order to the first device; 
 communicate an attach request to the cellular network; and 
 write an address of the second device to the memory of the RFID tag. 
 
 
     
     
       19. The system as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the authentication device is configured to authenticate the second device to switch the network connectivity to the second device for the wireless communication via the cellular network.